Leicester record breakers make it eight in a row at Villa Park

Aston Villa 1:4 Leicester City

City set a new club record of eight consecutive top flight victories with a 4-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday…

Brendan Rodgers made three changes to his starting line-up, with Chilwell, Iheanacho, and Praet in for Fuchs, Pérez and Barnes. This made for a different formation with two up front and a midfield diamond.
After a minute’s applause for former Villa boss Ron Saunders, whose death was announced the day before, there was a lively start to the game.
City first chance came in the 4th minute when Iheanacho cut in from the right and slipped Maddison in on goal, but his shot was blocked by Konsa. The rebound fell for Iheanacho, who chipped a ball to Vardy at the far post but his weak first time effort went straight at Heaton.
Villa then did some attacking and won a couple of corners as heavy rain suddenly lashed Villa Park.
City went close in the 10th minute when Söyüncü set up Evans with a chance but he sent it too close to Heaton from short range. Villa should have taken the lead two minutes later. Targett delivered a low cross from the right and it evaded everyone in a crowded goalmouth, running through to El Gahzi, who somehow managed to hit the bar from six yards.
Mings then went down with what looked to be a hamstring problem, but carried on after treatment. That may not have been a great decision as he was behind the play when City took a 20th minute lead. Iheanacho and Vardy raced forward on the break, the former sending the latter through the middle, and he rounded Heaton, but then miscued his finish, barely touching the ball. Fortunately Konsa had slipped over while running back to cover, allowing Vardy to take his second chance.
Mings then had to concede defeat to his hamstring and was replaced by Engels.
Villa went close when El Ghazi got his head to a Targett free-kick, but he sent the ball narrowly over the bar.
But City were on top, with the midfield stifling the threat of Grealish, and the twin strikers causing the Villa defence problems. They broke forward again in the 32nd minute but Vardy’s ball from the right to an unmarked Iheanacho was intercepted by Engels.
City doubled their lead four minutes before the break. Tielemans sent Maddison in down the left and his low cross was turned in with a fantastic touch from Iheanacho at the near post.
But City were to lose their two-goal cushion in first half injury time. They failed to clear a corner properly and the ball eventually fell for Grealish who curled a shot in off the right hand post to give Villa some hope.

But it didn’t last long as City restored their two goal lead four minutes into the second half. Maddison delivered a corner from the left and Evans, who had darted away from his marker, met it with a beautiful header that sailed into the top left hand corner.
Villa had little to offer but fouls after that and Targett was lucky to escape a red card for a nasty challenge on Ricardo.
Rodgers made his first change in the 64th minute, with Barnes on for the reborn Iheanacho.
City then wasted a few good chances with off-target efforts from Maddison, Tielemans and Barnes, who really should have scored when unmarked 15 yards out but snatched his effort over the bar.
But the fourth goal arrived in the 75th minute. From a Villa corner City broke up field and a perfect ball from Praet send Vardy charging down the middle, beating Heaton with a low drive.
Following his splendid assist Praet was replaced by Albrighton.
It was almost 5-1 in the 79th minute when Maddison sent a free-kick over and Söyüncü met it with a thumping header from close range, which Heaton saved with his nose.
Justin then replaced Chilwell for the final ten minutes.
As Villa sought to reduce City’s lead El Ghazi sent a decent chance wide, before both McGinn and Grealish went sprawling in the area under minimal contact. Appeals were laughed out of court in both cases.

It was a fantastic performance from City, solid at the back, commanding in midfield and lethal up front, and not for the first time this season they made history. Eight consecutive top flight wins saw them beat the club record set in 1962-63.
They were now six points clear of Manchester City in third place, and only eight points behind a Liverpool side that have only dropped two points all season.

Brendan Rodgers was happy to be under the radar: “After Manchester United won at Manchester City, a caption came up after the game about how far Manchester City are away from Liverpool. We respect that and we just get on with our job, get on with trying to play and improve our performance levels. It’s just natural – Manchester City and Liverpool are both incredible teams in the league and have shown last year how good they were. For us, we know that we are constantly trying to improve and look to close the gap. But I thought today we looked like a top team.”

Aston Villa: Heaton, El Mohamady, Konsa, Mings (Engels 23), Targett (Guilbert 78), Nakamba (Trézéguet 59), El Ghazi, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, Grealish, Wesley. 
Substitutes: Lansbury, Hourihane, Nyland, Kodjia.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell (Justin 80), Ndidi, Praet (Albrighton 76), Tielemans, Maddison, Vardy, Iheanacho (Barnes 64).
Substitutes: Justin, Morgan, Gray, Ward, Pérez.

Referee: Michael Oliver. Attendance: 41,908.

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Leicester make it seven in a row with win over Watford

Leicester City 2:0 Watford 

City reclaimed second place in the the Premier League overcoming a stubborn Watford side at the KPS on Wednesday night…

Brendan Rodgers made a change to his side for the first time in seven matches – Fuchs in for Chilwell – for the club’s first ever live-streamed game with Amazon Prime setting a kick off time of 7.30.
Watford arrived at the KPS bottom of the league and with caretaker manager Hayden Mullins in charge and they were happy to sit deep and wait for a chance on the break.
City looked a little disjointed, as they had been against Everton on Sunday, not helped by a series of niggling shirt-pulls and trips from Watford. Even when Deeney planted an elbow into Söyüncü’s face during an aerial challenge referee Craig Pawson didn’t produce a yellow card.
Pérez sent a good chance sailing over the bar, but was spared his blushes by a linesman’s flag earlier in the move.
City’s patient build ups weren’t leading to chances, and it was Watford who should have taken a 23rd minute lead. From a City corner the Hornets raced upfield two against one. Femina fed the ball to Deulofeu, but Ricardo got an excellent touch in as he shaped to shoot.

Barnes and Maddison then combined well and Barnes fired from an angle but could only find the side-netting.
The lively Barnes then went on a run across the 18 yard line, exchanging passes with Vardy and then Pérez, and skipping round defenders but his shot was blocked by Foster.
With half time approaching Pérez cut in from the right and fed a ball to Vardy who appeared to be tripped by Marriappa. Craig Pawson decided it was a dive and booked Vardy, and VAR didn’t intervene. Having watched the incident it is incredible that they both came to that conclusion – it looked like a clear penalty.
At the other end Deulofeu attempted to catch Schmeichel out with a free-kick from the right, but sent the ball narrowly wide of the far post.
Watford went close again just before the break, but Hughes’ shot was deflected wide after hitting Deeney.

Brendan Rodgers made a change for the second half, with Praet on for Pérez. City looked better than in the frustrating first half and chances began to come with Söyüncü firing one over and Barnes forcing a good save from Foster.
The breakthrough came in the 52nd minute when Maddison hoisted a cross in from the left and Masina planted a hand in the face of Evans as they lined up at the far post.
It was less of a penalty than the Vardy incident, but Pawson and VAR were happy to award it. Vardy stroked the ball past Foster, who had gambled on it going straight down the middle and didn’t dive. Vardy scoring record extended to seven games in a row.

With Watford forced to come out of their shell, City began to create more chances.
Praet had a goalbound shot blocked by Mesina and then Söyüncü nodded narrowly over from a corner.
Tielemans then played Vardy in, and he lifted the ball over the advancing Foster, but with Barnes looking certain to score his first goal at the KPS, Mesina hooked it away brilliantly.
Rodgers made his second change in the 69th minute bringing Choudhury on for Tielemans. Ten minutes later he brought Justin on for his Premier League debut, in place of Barnes, and he immediately impressed with a couple of good runs down the left.
Watford were trying to press forward, but were lacking any kind of creativity up front and their first shot on target arrived four minutes into time-added-on, Quina sending an 18-yarder straight into Schmeichel’s arms.
Instead, it was City who found the net in the last minute of the game.
Justin nodded a ball forward into Maddison’s path and his rather scuffed shot deceived Foster, bouncing over his outstretched leg and just having enough on it to cross the line.

It had been a poor spectacle on a cold night, but City had scrapped their way to victory and matched the ‘Ice Kings’ winning run of seven games in 1962-63.
They also reclaimed second spot from Manchester City and remained Liverpool’s closest contenders for the title.

Brendan Rodgers commented: “It was a tough game for us. Hayden Mullins had Watford very well organised. We had to be patient this evening and worked very hard for that but I thought we deserved it.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Fuchs, Ndidi, Pérez (Praet 45), Tielemans (Choudhury 69), Maddison, Barnes (Justin 80), Vardy.
Substitutes: Morgan, Albrighton, Ward, Iheanacho. 
Watford: Foster, Femenía, Mariappa, Cathcart, Masina, Sarr, Doucouré, Capoue, Hughes (Quina 83), Deeney (Gray 87), Deulofeu (Success 77).
Substitutes: Gomes, Chalobah, Dele-Bashiru, Foulquier.

Referee: Craig Pawson. Attendance: 31,763.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

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Late Iheanacho strike maintains winning run against Everton

Leicester City 2:1 Everton

Kelechi Iheanacho came off the bench and produced an inspired performance with an assist and a last-gasp goal that saw City overturn an Everton lead at the KPS on Sunday…

Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged starting XI for the sixth successive game for this Sunday evening kick off, while the pressure was heaped on Everton boss Marco Silva, who appeared to be in a win or be sacked scenario.
Everton were sitting deep and City’s early attempts to create something were frustrated. Then Everton galloped forward on the break and Sidibe fired a shot over the bar.
Pérez was looking lively for City and sent one shot straight at Pickford and another a yard past the far post.
Pérez was then blocked by Keane as he attempted to get past him, but VAR rightly ruled no penalty.
City were stifled by a determined-looking Everton side and didn’t look to be quite on their game. And it was the visitors who took a 23rd minute lead. Iwobi fed Sidibé down the right and he crossed early for Richarlison to bullet a header past Schmeichel from eight yards.
City were still struggling to get moves going, with passes going astray, and when the next chance came it summed up the first half hour. Vardy’s attempted overhead kick from a Chilwell cross was nearer the scoreboard than the goal.
In the 33rd minute City were appealing for one penalty after another. Vardy appeared to have been brought down by Mina’s trailing leg and then Chilwell was caught while hurdling a Holgate challenge. Referee Graham Scott pointed to the spot, but then stuck his finger in his ear for a while and VAR decided that neither was worthy of a spot-kick.

City pushed forward but Everton were defending doggedly and in numbers and they reached the break with their lead intact.

City continued to misfire after the break, with even Söyüncü giving the ball away a couple of times. Everton had a good spell and earned two corners, the first a saw a Keane header that Schmeichel saved and the second was nodded over by Calvert-Lewin.
In the 54th minute Pereira went on a surging run into the area and unleashed a fierce shot that Pickford did well to block.
At the other end Holgate got in on the right and fired a shot from close range that was blocked by Söyüncü.
In the 62nd minute Brendan Rodgers replaced Pérez with Iheanacho, for his first Premier League appearance of the season.
He looked an improved player immediately, combining well with Ndidi and firing a shot straight at Pickford. Then, in the 68th minute, he claimed an assist as City levelled.

Ndidi charged down the middle and fed Iheanacho down the right. He delivered a low ball across goal and Vardy was waiting to pounce at the far post.
Vardy had now scored in six consecutive games.
Everton were still threatening on the their breaks forward, but City looked more on their game now as they sought a winner.
An audacious flick from Barnes sent Vardy down the right and his cross was met on the volley by Maddison but went straight at Pickford.
Then a chip into the area by Tielemans saw Vardy sending a header an inch over the bar.
At the other end, Kean almost caught Schmeichel out with a speculative shot but it hit the side-netting.
Albrighton came on for Barnes with nine minutes to go and time running out.
Tilemans sent a long range effort narrowly wide of the left hand post as City continued to press.
Everton were in full time-wasting mode now, as they attempted to kill the game with pink shirts dropping to the ground and the trainer busy. But the point that Marco Silva was so desperate for was not to be in a dramatic end to the game.
In the fourth minute of time-added-on Tielemans sent Iheanacho in down the middle, he turned past Holgate and fired into the bottom left hand corner. His celebrations were halted by the offside flag, but a painfully long VAR check restored his goal and the roof was lifted off the KPS.

City had not been at their best, and Everton were spirited opponents, but Brendan Rodgers’s side had found a new way to win.
It was a night of triumph for Iheanacho. He was signed from Manchester City in 2017, but he truly arrived at Leicester on a Sunday evening in 2019.

Brendan Rodgers summed up: “To come from behind demonstrates the quality and mindset of this team to keep going. In any good team you have to have that. The best teams have spirit. This is a team that is so strong together. Kelechi is a wonderful demonstration of someone who trains with a great attitude every day. They allow this team to develop to the level it has been at because they work hard in training.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Pérez (Iheanacho 62), Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Albrighton 82), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Morgan, Ward, Choudhury, Praet.
Everton: Pickford, Holgate, Mina, Keane, Sidibé, Davies, Sigurdsson, Digne, Iwobi (Kean 78), Calvert-Lewin (Schneiderlin 78), Richarlison.
Substitutes: Baines, Tosun, Bernard, Gordon, Lössl.

Referee: Graham Scott. Attendance: 32,144.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

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Leicester’s winning run continues at Brighton

Brighton & Hove Albion 0:2 Leicester City

City’s fifth consecutive win came courtesy of second half goals from Pérez and Vardy at a rain-swept Amex Stadium on Saturday.

For the fifth game running Brendan Rodgers named an unchanged side, and they racked up plenty of chances early on.
In the second minute Barnes swung a cross over from the left and Pérez ghosted in at the back and sent a header against the post.
Maddison then teed Barnes up for a shot that failed to hit the target. Then Chilwell delivered a free kick from the left that Vardy headed goalwards, but Ryan managed to tip it over the bar.
With Brighton penned into their own half the chances continued to come. Vardy nodded a corner on at the far post but Mooy managed to hook it clear from a yard out with Pérez waiting to pounce.
After this early onslaught Brighton managed to get more of the ball for a spell, but City’s defence, with Söyüncü again in imperious form, dealt with everything the Seagulls could throw at them.

On the half hour Pérez weaved his way in down the right and cut a ball back for Barnes, but Ryan managed to tip his low shot round the post.
A minute later Barnes swung a cross over to the far post but a touch from a defender took it away from Pérez, who had again arrived unmarked at the far post.
Brighton’s best chance came just before half time when Duffy got his head to a corner but sent the ball well wide.
It looked as though City might take a lead with them down the tunnel in the 45th minute when Maddison sent Vardy clear on goal, but his attempted lob over the advancing Ryan was miscued.
For all City’s chances it remained goalless at half time.

After City’s domination of the first half it was Brighton who looked the stronger side after the break, though Schmeichel still didn’t have a save to make with the defence mopping up in front of him.
There were spells of treatment for Maddison and Evans, and Evans had to go off in the 62nd minute, replaced by Morgan.
With Brighton pressing  forward City were hitting them on the break.
Vardy charged forward and squared for Pérez who hesitated and the chance was gone. Two minutes later City finally turned a chance into a goal. City broke upfield and Vardy opted to square to Pérez again who made no mistake this time, side-footing home from six yards.

Two minutes later another breakaway saw Chilwell cross for Vardy whose first touch took him round his marker but Ryan was sharply off his line to block the shot.
At the other end Duffy got his head to a cross but again sent it yards wide from close in.
Brendan Rodgers made his second change in the 70th minute, bringing on Praet for Pérez.
Brighton went close when Maupay slipped through the defence but Söyüncü slid in from nowhere to block his shot.
Barnes then fired an effort narrowly wide, before being replaced by Gray.
Gray was instantly involved, being shoved and tripped a yard inside the area by Webster. Mike Dean pointed to the spot. Vardy’s spot-kick was saved by Ryan but Maddison was on hand to head home the rebound.
Maddison’s birthday goal celebrations were almost over when VAR told Mike Dean that there had been encroachment from both sides and the penalty had to be retaken.
This time Vardy fired it home to maintain his place at the top of the Premier League scoring chart and put the game beyond the home side.

Murray sent in a cross/shot, but still Schmeichel couldn’t get his gloves dirty with Söyüncü racing across the area to hoof clear.
City comfortably saw out the remainder of the game, a fifth straight win (and fourth straight clean sheet) seeing them sitting in second place regardless of the weekend’s results.

Brendan Rodgers again had to deal with title talk: “What’s great now is that our supporters are singing: ‘We’re going to win the league!’ in the most competitive league in the world, so that tells you where they’re at, the confidence they have and the dreams that they have, which is absolutely brilliant. For me, it’s keeping the team focused because you have to work. What you’ve done in the previous 12 games has gone. It’s about being judged on today and I thought we put in a terrific performance and kept another clean sheet.”

Brighton: Ryan, Montoya (Schelotto 77), Duffy, Webster, Burn, Pröpper, Stephens (Bissouma 77), March (Murray 83), Mooy, Maupay, Trossard.
Substitutes: Gross, Balogun, Jahanbakhsh, Button.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans (Morgan 62), Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Pérez (Praet 70), Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Gray 78), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Albrighton, Ward, Iheanacho.

Referee: Mike Dean. Attendance: 30,640.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

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Singing in the rain: Leicester beat Arsenal to claim second spot

Leicester City 2:0 Arsenal

City’s Remembrance Day fixture saw a 2-0 win over Arsenal at the KPS on Saturday evening…

Brendan Rodgers made no changes to the side that won at Palace, while the pressure was beginning to build on Unai Emery.
After the usual immaculate poppy mosaic by the club, and the sounding of the Last Post, the game kicked off in constant and heavy rain.

City pressed forward in the opening stages, with Arsenal appearing to employ a strange 5-5 formation, with the front five swarming forward on the break.
In the 6th minute a good move involving Aubameyang and Özil set up Lacazette but he scuffed his shot into the side netting.
City had an attacking spell, but the final ball was wanting, and then Maddison was fouled 25 yards out. He swung a free kick across the face of goal but Guendouzi hauled Söyüncü down as he prepared to meet the ball at the far post. It was a clear and obvious penalty. If VAR can’t give something like that then what is it for?
Arsenal went close in the 14th minute, a sweeping move upfield saw Bellerin cut back for Aubameyang, who had his shot smothered by Ndidi, Lacazette sending a shot well wide from a great position.
While Arsenal looked dangerous going forward they looked nervy at the back, a Tielemans shot was blocked, Pérez lifted an effort over the bar, and then Barnes sent a shot straight at Leno.

Pérez then sent over a cross from the right that Vardy just failed to connect with at the far post.
The chances continued to come for both sides, Tielemans volleyed wide and Bellerin forced Schmeichel to tip a lopping effort over the bar. Maddison was then fouled on the edge of the area by Torreira and sent his curling free kick a whisker over the bar with Leno rooted to the spot.
A minute before the break Barnes attempted to head home a Chilwell cross but connected with his ear and it flew well wide.
Somehow we arrived at half time without a goal.

City should have gone 1-0 up in the 49th minute when Ricardo motored past Torreira down the right and cut the ball back for Ndidi on the penalty spot, but his rising shot rattled the crossbar.
The game continued in end-to-end fashion, with Luiz sending a long-range effort wide and Bellerin blazing a 25-yarder over the bar.
Arsenal had the ball in City’s net in the 55th minute when Aubameyang side-footed home an Özil cross, but he was offside. Proper old-fashioned offside, not VAR 3mm offside.
Brandan Rodgers made his first change on the hour, replacing Pérez with Gray.
Luiz then sent Aubameyang through but swift work from Ricardo robbed him of a chance.
There was a feeling that a goal must surely come in such an open game and it finally arrived in the 68th minute. It was the end product of a superb passing move by City: Gray sent a ball infield from the right, Barnes backheeled it to Tielemans who squared for Vardy to guide the ball past Leno.

As Arsenal pressed forward in search of an equaliser they left themselves open and Vardy,slipped in by Gray, unleashed a fierce shot which Leno did well to block with his knee.
Brendan Rodgers then brought Praet on for Barnes in the 73rd minute.
Two minutes later City put the game to bed. After Ndidi had battled his way through  midfield Ricardo picked out Vardy in the area. He laid a ball off to Maddison who connected beautifully with a low shot through Bellerín’s legs, with Leno seeing it too late to react.
City then won a series of corners, delivered by Maddison, and one deflected inches wide off Guendouzi.
Arsenal looked a beaten side at this point and City did most of the attacking in the closing stages.

The final whistle saw City move up to second place and the talk now was not top six, or even top four. It was now ‘Are Leicester title contenders?’
Brendan Rodgers tried to play it down: “We’re not really thinking about the title, but if we can bring European football back here that would be great.”

Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Pérez (Gray 60), Tielemans, Maddison, Barnes (Praet 74), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Morgan, Albrighton, Ward, Choudhury.
Arsenal: Leno, Chambers, David Luiz, Holding (Pépé 77), Bellerín, Torreira (Willock 80), Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Özil, Lacazette, Aubameyang.
Substitutes: Tierney, Papastathopoulos, Martínez, Martinelli, Saka.

Referee: Chris Kavanagh. Attendance: 32,209.

PHOTOS: Simon Kimber

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Leicester reclaim third place with a win at Palace

Crystal Palace 0:2 Leicester City

A run of four defeats in a row against Palace was halted with a fine display at Selhurst Park earning a 2-0 win for City with second half goals from Söyüncü and Vardy.

Not surprisingly Brendan Rodgers stuck with the starting XI that beat Southampton 9-0 for this Sunday trip to south London.
After some early probing by both sides it was City who had the first chance in the 5th minute. Tielemans picked out Barnes with a pass and he took a couple of touches before firing a 20 yarder straight at Guaita.
Palace then had an attacking spell and Zaha set up Ayew for a couple of chances, one shot blocked and the other way off target.
City were beginning to take charge of the game by the 20th minute and a great move upfield involving Barnes and Maddison sent Vardy haring in on the left. But Guaita narrowed the angle well to block his shot.
Moments later Evans sent a header narrowly over the bar from a corner.
McArthur and then Van Aanholt send in wayward shots, before Schlupp had an effort from the edge of the area blocked by Tielemans. It looped up and looked to be heading just under the bar before Schmeichel opted for safety first and tipped it over.
As half time approached Tielemans almost delivered the pass of the season through to Vardy, but the alert Guaita rushed off his line to clear.

Palace started the second half on the offensive and a low Kouyaté cross from the right just evaded Ayew, with Ricardo managing to clear at the far post.
But City then got a grip on proceedings, and good work from Pérez down the right earned a corner.  Evans met Maddison’s flag kick with a thumping header that Guaita did well to tip over at full stretch.
A minute later City went ahead from another corner. With all eyes on the threat of Evans, Söyüncü ghosted through the penalty area, the ball skimmed van Aanholt’s head and the City defender stooped to head home his first goal for the club.
As Palace went in search of an equaliser Milivojevic hoisted a free kick into the area and there was a three-way clash of heads involving Cahill, Kouyate and Evans. They all recovered after spell of treatment.
There were then loud appeals for a penalty when a Schlupp shot hit Chilwell, but it struck his raised knee, not his arm.
City made their first change in the 74th minute, with Gray on for Pérez.
Palace continued to press but there was more perspiration than inspiration and some solid defending meant that they rarely threatened Schmeichel’s goal.
Rodger’s shored up that defence, bringing on Morgan for Barnes in the 84th minute, but there was to be no nail-biting finish as City wrapped up the points in the 88th minute with a fine passing move. Tielemans sent a ball in from the left, Gray dummied it, Vardy fed it back to Gray who returned it with a cutback for Vardy to deliver a low shot past Guaita. He then did an ‘Eagle’ celebration in front of the home supporters.
Praet replaced Maddison just before 6 minutes time added on began and he sent a superb 60 yard free kick to Chilwell at the far post, but his low shot struck the inside of the right hand post and somehow stayed out.
It was a well-crafted victory at a ground that has seen many a poor City performance over the years and it saw City back up to third place and Vardy at the top of the Premier League goal chart.
With the pundits talk turning from ‘top six’ to possible title candidates Rodgers was playing things down: “My senior players are first-class. The spirit is very good and they understand we are trying to create something here we can sustain. People asked about European football at the beginning of the season and I said, ‘listen, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves’ because there are some incredible teams in this league.”

Indeed there are, and it looks as though Leicester City are one of them.

Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, van Aanholt, McArthur (McCarthy 78), Kouyaté (Meyer 74), Milivojevic, Schlupp, Zaha, Ayew (Benteke 78).
Substitutes: Dann, Hennessey, Camarasa, Kelly.
Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo, Evans, Söyüncü, Chilwell, Ndidi, Pérez (Gray 74), Tielemans, Maddison (Praet 90), Barnes (Morgan 85), Vardy.
Substitutes: Justin, Albrighton, Ward, Iheanacho.

Referee: Paul Tierney. Attendance: 25,480.

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Leicester overcome battling Burton for a Carabao Cup quarter-final place

Burton Albion 1:3 Leicester City 

A late goal from James Maddison finally saw off the threat of a spirited Burton side at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday night.

Brendan Rodgers made nine changes to his side for the short trip to Burton, with possibly the most talented subs bench in the club’s history.
In a frantically paced opening spell Nigel Clough’s side pressed hard and high and didn’t give City a moment on the ball. But this left them vulnerable to the counter attack.
In the 4th minute City broke and Iheanacho stroked a shot narrowly wide.
Burton continued to play in City’s half and they were made to pay in the 7th minute. Gray sent Tielemans down the left and his low cross into the area was clipped past the advancing O’Hara by Iheanacho.
Burton went close in the 18th minute when a Boyce shot was blocked by Morgan and the follow-up from Fraser shaved the post. But two minutes later City doubled their lead with another punishing breakaway.
Praet charged down the right and set Tielemans up with a perfect cutback, the Belgian side-footing into the bottom corner.
City looked to be cruising to victory at this stage, passing the ball round well, but Gray missed a chance to put the tie to bed, blazing a shot over after Iheanacho teed him up for a good chance.
But the League One side were still a threat. Ward had to turn a Broadhead header round the post and then got down smartly to a Broadhead shot, O’Toole sending the rebound into the stand. And City took a two-goal cushion down the tunnel with them at half time.

Nigel Clough brought on the 37-year-old Lloyd Dyer for the second half and Burton seemed to find another gear. Although Praet went close early in the half, Burton halved City’s lead in the 52nd minute. City were unable to clear as the bobbled around the edge of the area and Boyce lashed a shot through Justin’s legs, catching out Ward who forearmed the ball into the net.
Burton were pressing hard for an equaliser now and Choudhury had to head a corner from Sarkic out from under the bar.
At the other end Albrighton broke clear but sent his angled shot into the side-netting.
Brendan Rodgers made his first change in the 66th minute, bringing on Barnes for  Iheanacho, who had faded after a good start.
Albrighton went clear on goal again, but his first touch took him wide and O’Hara narrowed the angle well.
Burton had a great chance to level in the 74th minute when Boyce volleyed from 7 yards but Ward made amends for the earlier goal with a brilliant reaction save.
City went close in the 77th minute when Evans header from a corner was blocked by Wallace, and then the lively Barnes had the ball in the net but it was ruled offside.
With things a little too close for comfort Rodgers brought Maddison on for Praet and then Ndidi for Choudhury.
Sarkic then had a great chance to take the game to penalties, but lifted his shot way over from close in.
The travelling City fans could finally relax in the 89th minute, when Gray found plenty of room down the right and cut back for Maddison who sent his shot across O’Hara and in at the far post.

After apparently 2-0 up and cruising after twenty minutes City had to battle hard for a place in the quarter-finals.
It would be nice to avoid Manchester City in the draw for once, on Zoe Ball’s Breakfast Show on Thursday morning…

Burton: O’Hara, Brayford, O’Toole, Wallace, Hutchinson (Dyer 45), Edwards (Sbarra 88), Quinn, Fraser, Sarkic (Templeton 88), Boyce, Broadhead.
Substitutes: Daniel, Buxton, Anderson, Garratt.
Leicester: Ward, Justin, Morgan, Evans, Fuchs, Choudhury (Ndidi 88), Gray, Praet (Maddison 83), Tielemans, Albrighton, Iheanacho (Barnes 66).
Substitutes: Schmeichel, Söyüncü, Vardy, Ricardo.

Referee: Darren England. Attendance: 6,186.

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